Hibiscus plant named &#39;gabriel&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, characterized by its glossy dark green leaves; upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habit; freely flowering habit; and large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rose-sinensis and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Gabriel.

[0002] The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Plaquemine, La. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new large-flowered Hibiscus cultivars withunique and desirable flower colors.

[0003] The new Hibiscus originated from a cross made by the Inventor inPlaquemine, La., of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Topaz Glory, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unidentified selectionof Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent.The cultivar Gabriel was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Plaquemine, La.

[0004] Compared to plants of the topaz-flowered female parent, thecultivar Topaz Glory, plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardlyspreading and more freely branching.

[0005] Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by terminal cuttingstaken in a controlled environment in Plaquemine, La., has shown that theunique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The cultivar Gabriel has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, light intensity,nutrition and water status without, however, any variance in genotype.

[0007] The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Gabriel’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Gabriel’ as a new anddistinct cultivar:

[0008] 1. Glossy dark green leaves.

[0009] 2. Upright, outwardly spreading and freely branching plant habitthat is appropriate for container production.

[0010] 3. Freely flowering habit.

[0011] 4. Large orange and purple-colored flowers with dark red centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0012] The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overallappearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Hibiscus. The photograph on the first sheetcomprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Gabriel’ thatwas about 12 months old. The photograph on the second sheet comprises aclose-up view of a typical flower of ‘Gabriel’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

[0013] The following observations, measurements and values describeplants grown in Plaquemine, La., with one plant per 12.5-cm container,during the summer under outdoor conditions which closely approximatecommercial production. Plants used for the description were about 9months old. In the description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

[0014] Botanical Classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivarGabriel.

[0015] Parentage:

[0016]Female or seed parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar TopazGlory, not patented.

[0017]Male or pollen parent.—Unidentified selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis, not patented.

[0018] Propagation:

[0019]Type.—By terminal cuttings.

[0020]Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 40 days at temperatures of22° C. Winter: About 50 days at temperatures of 22° C.

[0021]Time to develop roots.—Summer: About 60 days at temperatures of22° C. Winter: About 70 days at temperatures of 22° C.

[0022]Root description.—Fibrous and well-branched.

[0023] Plant Description:

[0024]Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen; upright andoutwardly spreading plant habit.

[0025]Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three or fourlateral branches develop after removal of terminal apex.

[0026]Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 38 cm.

[0027]Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 48 cm.

[0028]Lateral branch description.—Length: About 33 cm. Diameter: About 8mm. Texture: Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough. Color: Immature:Green, close to 147A to 147B, overlain with anthocyanin, close to 200Ato 200C. Mature: Gray, close to 197A.

[0029] Foliage Description:

[0030]Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.

[0031]Length.—About 9.6 cm.

[0032]Width.—About 9.3 cm.

[0033]Shape.—Broadly ovate.

[0034]Apex.—Acute to rounded or cuspidate.

[0035]Base.—Obtuse.

[0036]Margin.—Crenate.

[0037]Texture.—Upper surface, glabrous; lower surface, rough andslightly pubescent; rugose.

[0038]Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; glossy. Youngfoliage, lower surface: Close to 147B; dull. Mature foliage, uppersurface: Much darker than 147A; glossy. Mature foliage, lower surface:Close to 147B; dull.

[0039]Petiole.—Length: About 3.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Texture: Veryfine pubescence on upper surface; lower surface, glabrous. Color: Darkgreenish brown; close to 200A with faint undertones of 147A.

[0040] Flower Description:

[0041]Natural flowering season.—Spring through fall or during periods ofwarm weather.

[0042]Flower arrangement.—Flowers arranged singly at terminal leafaxils.Very freely flowering with usually about two or three developing flowerbuds and one or two open flowers per lateral branch. Flowers faceupright or outward.

[0043]Flower appearance.—Large, rounded single flowers. Flowers are openfor about one or two days before closing. Flowers persistent.

[0044]Flower diameter.—About 18.7 cm.

[0045]Flower depth.—About 9.6 cm.

[0046]Flower bud (just before showing color).—Rate of opening: Aboutthree to five days depending on temperatures. Length: About 2.3 cm.Diameter: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close or slightly darkerthan 147A.

[0047]Petals.—Texture: Smooth, satiny, rugose. Arrangement: Corollaconsists of five overlapping petals. Shape: Roughly spatulate;asymmetrical. Apex: Mostly rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire;undulate and ruffled. Length: About 9.4 cm. Width: About 10.3 cm. Color:Upper surface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 9B fading to 11A to 11B, overlainwith red, 42A, fading to orange, 28A; center, pink, 62B to 62C, fadingto 62C to 62D, overlain with dark purple, 79A; veins in center, pink,62B to 62C to 62D, fading to white, 155D; base, dark red, 53A to 59A,and shiny. Lower surface: Margin, yellow, 9A to 7A, fading to 9C;center, pink, 62B to 62D, gradually becoming white, 155D, at base.

[0048]Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a star-shaped calyx.Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About1.2 cm. Texture: Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Rough, pubescent.Color: Upper surface: Close to 146B. Lower surface: Close to 146A.

[0049]Peduncles.—Length: About 6.2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Angle:Upright and bent below flower about 120° from vertical. Strength:Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth. Color: 146A with occasionalanthocyanin, close to 200C, towards base.

[0050]Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous, about92. Anther shape: Crescent. Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 1 mm. Anthercolor: 10A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium:Pistil number: One. Pistil length: About 8.5 cm. Style length: About 5.7cm. Style diameter, at base: About 1 cm. Style color: Base, 53A;mid-section, close to 52A; apex, 52C. Stigma number: Five. Stigma shape:Rounded. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 44A.

[0051]Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

[0052] Disease Resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not beenobserved to be resistant to pathogens common to Hibiscus.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘Gabriel’, asillustrated and described.